Huntly Castle - Huntly, Banffshire, Scotland (HS)
From the small town of Huntly, a narrow lane of trees leads down to the castle, hidden away between the golf course and the once strategically important River Deveron. The first impression is of a once stunning, still beautiful late-sixteenth and early-seventeenth century palace, complete with the finest Renaissance carved stone decoration, such as can be seen at Stirling Castle and Dirleton Castle.
On getting closer to the castle, it becomes apparent that there was a much earlier incarnation at Huntly, which turns out to be Strathbogie Castle, first built mainly in wood on the higher but smaller mound, or motte, to the west of the later, surviving buildings. The outer bailey of this first, late twelfth century castle, built by Earl Duncan (II) of Fife, was used as the platform on which all the later buildings were erected. It was to the smaller, wooden castle however that the first of many prestigious visitors came to stay. Robert Bruce was taken ill at Inverurie and brought to Strathbogie in 1307. John of Strathbogie had died fighting for Robert the previous year, but despite his offer of shelter, David, the new owner, later turned against Robert shortly before the decisive battle at Bannockburn in 1314. As punishment, his lands were forfeited and the Peel of Strathbogie, as it was then known, was given to one of Roberts more staunch supporters, Sir Adam Gordon of Huntly in Berwickshire, whose name the castle later became known under.
Despite claims over the next fifty years or so from the ousted earls of Atholl, Huntly remained thereafter a Gordon possession. By the beginning of the fifteenth century, the old wooden castle on the motte was well past its usefulness and a new, stone tower house was built on the opposite side of the bailey to where the palace still stands. Although once lofty and with a certain measure of comfort, little remains today apart from the foundations. Several adjoining buildings would have surrounded it, but it in turn was deemed too small and not grand enough for the status of the Gordons, by now Earls of Huntly. A new west range and domestic buildings to the east, including the still standing Bakehouse and Brewhouse was added in the middle of the sixteenth century, along with the first work on what became the palace.
Over the centuries, the Gordons had been staunch supporters of the Crown, aiding the King's defeat of the powerful Black Douglas family, who had attacked the castle in 1452. Alexander Gordon, the first Earl of Huntly, was buried in Elgin cathedral, his carved tomb effigy showing him in the robes of his position as lord chancellor of Scotland.
The fourth earl, George, also attained this high office and he accompanied Mary of Guise to France in 1550. As the widow of James V and later queen-regent, this powerful friend visited Huntly in return in 1556. By then, a substantial part of the new buildings were complete and a splendid and very expensive entertainment was granted to the royal household. During the Reformation, the earl of Huntly remained Catholic, as did his descendants, which eventually proved fatal for the castle.
The new Queen Mary (of Scots) moved decisively against her mother's former friend, as his faith and his power were possible opponents to her throne. They joined battle in October 1562 at Corrichie and the earl was killed. His younger son, Sir John was captured and beheaded at Aberdeen and the castle was looted and sleighted. The surviving sixth earl, George, later became involved in a plot against the king, James VI and the Tower House was blown up by the king.
After some years abroad, the earl came back to forgiveness (and promotion to a marquis) and eagerly set about renovating his remaining castle with the latest European styles. The date of 1606 on one of the wonderfully carved fireplaces suggests that by this date, most of the work was complete. The work carried out by both the first and second Marquises shows a high level of craftsmanship in the carving and also a sophistication in the heraldic themes. Although the 'popish' carvings were later defaced by the Covenanters during the Civil War in the seventeenth century, the schemes of the great frontispiece above the entrance doorway and again on the fireplaces inside, are a clear representation of the system of power and authority accepted in the early seventeenth century mind. One of the surviving fireplaces in the marchioness' apartment has portraits of the couple and the ornate facade of the palace, with its beautiful oriole windows has their names in large letters running right across.
Once the castle was defaced during the Civil War and was last occupied by Government troops during the 1745 Jacobite Rising, its fate was sealed and much of the stonework taken away for building elsewhere. During the nineteenth century, the growing antiquarian interest saved it from further deliberate destruction and in 1923, the duke of Richmond and Gordon passed the castle into state care. It is now maintained by Historic Scotland and is a charming and varied place to visit. The site has different phases of building and the palace has to be the highlight, but there are also smaller things to interest the careful observer, such as the remnants of medieval roadway stretching out from the castle into the golf course.